1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying,
3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:
5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.
6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.
7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.
8 And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9 And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
10 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;
11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites called them Emims.
12 The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them.
13 Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered.
14 And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.
15 For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.
16 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
17 That the LORD spake unto me, saying,
18 Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:
19 And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.
20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead:
22 As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:
23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
24 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.
26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.
28 Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;
29 (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.
30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
31 And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
33 And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:
35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:
37 Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbade us.
1 Then we turned, H6437 and took our journey H5265 into the wilderness H4057 by the way H1870 of the Red H5488 sea, H3220 as the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto me: and we compassed H5437 mount H2022 Seir H8165 many H7227 days. H3117
2 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto me, saying, H559
3 Ye have compassed H5437 this mountain H2022 long enough: H7227 turn H6437 you northward. H6828
4 And command H6680 thou the people, H5971 saying, H559 Ye are to pass H5674 through the coast H1366 of your brethren H251 the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwell H3427 in Seir; H8165 and they shall be afraid H3372 of you: take ye good H3966 heed H8104 unto yourselves therefore:
5 Meddle H1624 not with them; for I will not give H5414 you of their land, H776 no, not so much as a foot H7272 breadth; H4096 H3709 because I have given H5414 mount H2022 Seir H8165 unto Esau H6215 for a possession. H3425
6 Ye shall buy H7666 meat H400 of them for money, H3701 that ye may eat; H398 and ye shall also buy H3739 water H4325 of them for money, H3701 that ye may drink. H8354
7 For the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath blessed H1288 thee in all the works H4639 of thy hand: H3027 he knoweth H3045 thy walking H3212 through this great H1419 wilderness: H4057 these forty H705 years H8141 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath been with thee; thou hast lacked H2637 nothing. H1697
8 And when we passed H5674 by from our brethren H251 the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwelt H3427 in Seir, H8165 through the way H1870 of the plain H6160 from Elath, H359 and from Eziongaber, H6100 we turned H6437 and passed H5674 by the way H1870 of the wilderness H4057 of Moab. H4124
9 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Distress H6696 not the Moabites, H4124 neither contend H1624 with them in battle: H4421 for I will not give H5414 thee of their land H776 for a possession; H3425 because I have given H5414 Ar H6144 unto the children H1121 of Lot H3876 for a possession. H3425
10 The Emims H368 dwelt H3427 therein in times past, H6440 a people H5971 great, H1419 and many, H7227 and tall, H7311 as the Anakims; H6062
11 Which H1992 also were accounted H2803 giants, H7497 as the Anakims; H6062 but the Moabites H4125 call H7121 them Emims. H368
12 The Horims H2752 also dwelt H3427 in Seir H8165 beforetime; H6440 but the children H1121 of Esau H6215 succeeded H3423 them, when they had destroyed H8045 them from before H6440 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead; as Israel H3478 did H6213 unto the land H776 of his possession, H3425 which the LORD H3068 gave H5414 unto them.
13 Now rise up, H6965 said I, and get you over H5674 the brook H5158 Zered. H2218 And we went over H5674 the brook H5158 Zered. H2218
14 And the space H3117 in which we came H1980 from Kadeshbarnea, H6947 until we were come over H5674 the brook H5158 Zered, H2218 was thirty H7970 and eight H8083 years; H8141 until all the generation H1755 of the men H582 of war H4421 were wasted out H8552 from among H7130 the host, H4264 as the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto them.
15 For indeed the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was against them, to destroy H2000 them from among H7130 the host, H4264 until they were consumed. H8552
16 So it came to pass, when all the men H582 of war H4421 were consumed H8552 and dead H4191 from among H7130 the people, H5971
17 That the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto me, saying, H559
18 Thou art to pass over H5674 through Ar, H6144 the coast H1366 of Moab, H4124 this day: H3117
19 And when thou comest nigh H7126 over against H4136 the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 distress H6696 them not, nor meddle H1624 with them: for I will not give H5414 thee of the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 any possession; H3425 because I have given H5414 it unto the children H1121 of Lot H3876 for a possession. H3425
20 (That also was accounted H2803 a land H776 of giants: H7497 giants H7497 dwelt H3427 therein in old time; H6440 and the Ammonites H5984 call H7121 them Zamzummims; H2157
21 A people H5971 great, H1419 and many, H7227 and tall, H7311 as the Anakims; H6062 but the LORD H3068 destroyed H8045 them before H6440 them; and they succeeded H3423 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead:
22 As he did H6213 to the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwelt H3427 in Seir, H8165 when he destroyed H8045 the Horims H2752 from before H6440 them; and they succeeded H3423 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead even unto this day: H3117
23 And the Avims H5761 which dwelt H3427 in Hazerim, H2699 even unto Azzah, H5804 the Caphtorims, H3732 which came forth H3318 out of Caphtor, H3731 destroyed H8045 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead.)
24 Rise ye up, H6965 take your journey, H5265 and pass over H5674 the river H5158 Arnon: H769 behold, H7200 I have given H5414 into thine hand H3027 Sihon H5511 the Amorite, H567 king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and his land: H776 begin H2490 to possess H3423 it, and contend H1624 with him in battle. H4421
25 This day H3117 will I begin H2490 to put H5414 the dread H6343 of thee and the fear H3374 of thee upon the nations H6440 H5971 that are under the whole heaven, H8064 who shall hear H8085 report H8088 of thee, and shall tremble, H7264 and be in anguish H2342 because of thee. H6440
26 And I sent H7971 messengers H4397 out of the wilderness H4057 of Kedemoth H6932 unto Sihon H5511 king H4428 of Heshbon H2809 with words H1697 of peace, H7965 saying, H559
27 Let me pass H5674 through thy land: H776 I will go H3212 along by the high way, H1870 H1870 I will neither turn H5493 unto the right hand H3225 nor to the left. H8040
28 Thou shalt sell H7666 me meat H400 for money, H3701 that I may eat; H398 and give H5414 me water H4325 for money, H3701 that I may drink: H8354 only I will pass through H5674 on my feet; H7272
29 (As the children H1121 of Esau H6215 which dwell H3427 in Seir, H8165 and the Moabites H4125 which dwell H3427 in Ar, H6144 did H6213 unto me;) until I shall pass over H5674 Jordan H3383 into the land H776 which the LORD H3068 our God H430 giveth H5414 us.
30 But Sihon H5511 king H4428 of Heshbon H2809 would H14 not let us pass H5674 by him: for the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hardened H7185 his spirit, H7307 and made his heart H3824 obstinate, H553 that he might deliver H5414 him into thy hand, H3027 as appeareth this day. H3117
31 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Behold, H7200 I have begun H2490 to give H5414 Sihon H5511 and his land H776 before H6440 thee: begin H2490 to possess, H3423 that thou mayest inherit H3423 his land. H776
32 Then Sihon H5511 came out H3318 against H7125 us, he and all his people, H5971 to fight H4421 at Jahaz. H3096
33 And the LORD H3068 our God H430 delivered H5414 him before H6440 us; and we smote H5221 him, and his sons, H1121 and all his people. H5971
34 And we took H3920 all his cities H5892 at that time, H6256 and utterly destroyed H2763 the men, H4962 and the women, H802 and the little ones, H2945 of every city, H5892 we left H7604 none to remain: H8300
35 Only the cattle H929 we took for a prey H962 unto ourselves, and the spoil H7998 of the cities H5892 which we took. H3920
36 From Aroer, H6177 which is by the brink H8193 of the river H5158 of Arnon, H769 and from the city H5892 that is by the river, H5158 even unto Gilead, H1568 there was not one city H7151 too strong H7682 for us: the LORD H3068 our God H430 delivered H5414 all unto us: H6440
37 Only unto the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 thou camest H7126 not, nor unto any place H3027 of the river H5158 Jabbok, H2999 nor unto the cities H5892 in the mountains, H2022 nor unto whatsoever the LORD H3068 our God H430 forbad H6680 us.
1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Jehovah spake unto me; and we compassed mount Seir many days.
2 And Jehovah spake unto me, saying,
3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore;
5 contend not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.
6 Ye shall purchase food of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.
7 For Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand; he hath known thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Jehovah thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.
8 So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9 And Jehovah said unto me, Vex not Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
10 (The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim:
11 these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
12 The Horites also dwelt in Seir aforetime, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which Jehovah gave unto them.)
13 Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered.
14 And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as Jehovah sware unto them.
15 Moreover the hand of Jehovah was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed.
16 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
17 that Jehovah spake unto me, saying,
18 Thou art this day to pass over Ar, the border of Moab:
19 and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, vex them not, nor contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.
20 (That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
21 a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Jehovah destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead;
22 as he did for the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:
23 and the Avvim, that dwelt in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
24 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.
26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither unto the right hand nor to the left.
28 Thou shalt sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only let me pass through on my feet,
29 as the children of Esau that dwell in Seir, and the Moabites that dwell in Ar, did unto me; until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which Jehovah our God giveth us.
30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as at this day.
31 And Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Jahaz.
33 And Jehovah our God delivered him up before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones; we left none remaining:
35 only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken.
36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and `from' the city that is in the valley, even unto Gilead, there was not a city too high for us; Jehovah our God delivered up all before us:
37 only to the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and wheresoever Jehovah our God forbade us.
1 `And we turn, and journey into the wilderness, the way of the Red Sea, as Jehovah hath spoken unto me, and we go round the mount of Seir many days.
2 `And Jehovah speaketh unto me, saying,
3 Enough to you -- is the going round of this mount; turn for yourselves northward.
4 `And the people command thou, saying, Ye are passing over into the border of your brethren, sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, and they are afraid of you; and ye have been very watchful,
5 ye do not strive with them, for I do not give to you of their land even the treading of the sole of a foot; for a possession to Esau I have given mount Seir.
6 `Food ye buy from them with money, and have eaten; and also water ye buy from them with money, and have drunk,
7 for Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hands; He hath known thy walking in this great wilderness these forty years; Jehovah thy God `is' with thee; thou hast not lacked anything.
8 `And we pass by from our brethren, sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, by the way of the plain, by Elath, and by Ezion-Gaber; and we turn, and pass over the way of the wilderness of Moab;
9 and Jehovah saith unto me, Do not distress Moab, nor stir thyself up against them `in' battle, for I do not give to thee of their land `for' a possession; for to the sons of Lot I have given Ar `for' a possession.'
10 `The Emim formerly have dwelt in it, a people great, and numerous, and tall, as the Anakim;
11 Rephaim they are reckoned, they also, as the Anakim; and the Moabites call them Emim.
12 And in Seir have the Horim dwelt formerly; and the sons of Esau dispossess them, and destroy them from before them, and dwell in their stead, as Israel hath done to the land of his possession, which Jehovah hath given to them;
13 now, rise ye, and pass over for yourselves the brook Zered; and we pass over the brook Zered.
14 `And the days which we have walked from Kadesh-Barnea until that we have passed over the brook Zered, `are' thirty and eight years, till the consumption of all the generation of the men of battle from the midst of the camp, as Jehovah hath sworn to them;
15 and also the hand of Jehovah hath been against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, till they are consumed.
16 `And it cometh to pass, when all the men of battle have finished dying from the midst of the people,
17 that Jehovah speaketh unto me, saying,
18 Thou art passing over to-day the border of Moab, even Ar,
19 and thou hast come near over-against the sons of Ammon, thou dost not distress them, nor stir up thyself against them, for I do not give `any' of the land of the sons of Ammon to thee `for' a possession; for to the sons of Lot I have given it `for' a possession.
20 `A land of Rephaim it is reckoned, even it; Rephaim dwelt in it formerly, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummim;
21 a people great, and numerous, and tall, as the Anakim, and Jehovah destroyeth them before them, and they dispossess them, and dwell in their stead,
22 as He hath done for the sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, when He destroyed the Horim from before them, and they dispossess them, and dwell in their stead, unto this day.
23 `As to the Avim who are dwelling in Hazerim unto Azzah, the Caphtorim -- who are coming out from Caphtor -- have destroyed them, and dwell in their stead.
24 `Rise ye, journey and pass over the brook Arnon; see, I have given into thy hand Sihon king of Heshbon, the Amorite, and his land; begin to possess, and stir up thyself against him `in' battle.
25 This day I begin to put thy dread and thy fear on the face of the peoples under the whole heavens, who hear thy fame, and have trembled and been pained because of thee.
26 `And I send messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth, unto Sihon king of Heshbon, -- words of peace -- saying,
27 Let me pass over through thy land; in the several ways I go; I turn not aside -- right or left --
28 food for money thou dost sell me, and I have eaten; and water for money thou dost give to me, and I have drunk; only, let me pass over on my feet, --
29 as the sons of Esau who are dwelling in Seir, and the Moabites who are dwelling in Ar, have done to me -- till that I pass over the Jordan, unto the land which Jehovah our God is giving to us.
30 `And Sihon king of Heshbon hath not been willing to let us pass over by him, for Jehovah thy God hath hardened his spirit, and strengthened his heart, so as to give him into thy hand as at this day.
31 `And Jehovah saith unto me, See, I have begun to give before thee Sihon and his land; begin to possess -- to possess his land.
32 `And Sihon cometh out to meet us, he and all his people, to battle to Jahaz;
33 and Jehovah our God giveth him before us, and we smite him, and his sons, and all his people;
34 and we capture all his cities at that time, and devote the whole city, men, and the women, and the infants -- we have not left a remnant;
35 only, the cattle we have spoiled for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we have captured.
36 `From Aroer, which `is' by the edge of the brook Arnon, and the city which `is' by the brook, even unto Gilead there hath not been a city which `is' too high for us; the whole hath Jehovah our God given before us.
37 `Only, unto the land of the sons of Ammon thou hast not drawn near, any part of the brook Jabbok, and cities of the hill-country, and anything which Jehovah our God hath `not' commanded.
1 And we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as Jehovah had said unto me; and we went round mount Seir many days.
2 And Jehovah spoke to me, saying,
3 Ye have gone round this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
4 And command the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you; and ye shall be very guarded:
5 attack them not; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot-breadth; for I have given mount Seir as a possession unto Esau.
6 Ye shall buy of them food for money, that ye may eat; and water shall ye also buy of them for money, that ye may drink;
7 for Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand. He hath known thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years hath Jehovah thy God been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.
8 And we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, by the plain, by Elath, and by Ezion-geber, and we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9 And Jehovah said to me, Distress not the Moabites, neither engage with them in battle; for I will not give thee of their land a possession; for unto the children of Lot have I given Ar as a possession.
10 (The Emim dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakim.
11 They also are reckoned as giants like the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
12 And in Seir dwelt the Horites in times past; and the children of Esau dispossessed them, and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did to the land of their possession, which Jehovah gave to them.)
13 Now rise up, and pass over the torrent Zered. And we passed over the torrent Zered.
14 Now the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we had come over the torrent Zered, were thirty-eight years; until the whole generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, as Jehovah had sworn unto them.
15 Moreover the hand of Jehovah was against them to destroy them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed.
16 And it came to pass when all the men of war were consumed, having died off from among the people,
17 that Jehovah spoke to me, saying,
18 Thou art to pass this day over the border of Moab, [which is] Ar,
19 and come near over against the children of Ammon; thou shalt not distress them nor attack them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon a possession; for unto the children of Lot have I given it as a possession.
20 (That also is reckoned a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in time past, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummim;
21 a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakim; and Jehovah destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them, and dwelt in their stead;
22 as he did to the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, from before whom he destroyed the Horites; and they dispossessed them, and dwelt in their stead, even to this day.
23 And the Avvites who dwelt in the hamlets as far as Gazah -- the Caphtorim, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
24 Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon. Behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the king of Heshbon, the Amorite, and his land: begin, take possession, and engage with him in battle.
25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples under the whole heaven; who will hear report of thee, and will tremble, and quake because of thee.
26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon the king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me pass through thy land: by the highway alone will I go; I will neither turn to the right hand nor to the left.
28 Thou shalt sell me food for money that I may eat; and thou shalt give me water for money that I may drink; I will only pass through on my feet,
29 -- as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did to me, -- until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which Jehovah our God giveth us.
30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obdurate, that he might give him into thy hand, as it is this day.
31 And Jehovah said to me, Behold, I begin to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin, take possession, that thou mayest possess his land.
32 And Sihon came out against us for battle, he and all his people, to Jahaz.
33 But Jehovah our God gave him up before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and his whole people.
34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every city, men, and women, and little ones: we let none escape.
35 Only the cattle we took as booty for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
36 From Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the ravine even to Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: Jehovah our God delivered all before us.
37 Only thou didst not approach the land of the children of Ammon, the whole border of the river Jabbok, nor the cities of the mountain, nor to whatsoever Jehovah our God had forbidden us.
1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Yahweh spoke to me; and we compassed Mount Seir many days.
2 Yahweh spoke to me, saying,
3 You have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
4 Command you the people, saying, You are to pass through the border of your brothers the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you: take good heed to yourselves therefore;
5 don't contend with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.
6 You shall purchase food of them for money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink.
7 For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; he has known your walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
8 So we passed by from our brothers the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9 Yahweh said to me, Don't bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.
10 (The Emim lived therein before, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim:
11 these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
12 The Horites also lived in Seir before, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place; as Israel did to the land of his possession, which Yahweh gave to them.)
13 Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered. We went over the brook Zered.
14 The days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as Yahweh swore to them.
15 Moreover the hand of Yahweh was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed.
16 So it happened, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
17 that Yahweh spoke to me, saying,
18 You are this day to pass over Ar, the border of Moab:
19 and when you come near over against the children of Ammon, don't bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.
20 (That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim lived therein before; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
21 a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Yahweh destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place;
22 as he did for the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place even to this day:
23 and the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and lived in their place.)
24 Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
25 This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you.
26 I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me pass through your land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.
28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only let me pass through on my feet,
29 as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did to me; until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which Yahweh our God gives us.
30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as at this day.
31 Yahweh said to me, Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you: begin to possess, that you may inherit his land.
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz.
33 Yahweh our God delivered him up before us; and we struck him, and his sons, and all his people.
34 We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones; we left none remaining:
35 only the cattle we took for a prey to ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken.
36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [from] the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us; Yahweh our God delivered up all before us:
37 only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn't come near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.
1 Then we went back, journeying into the waste land by the way to the Red Sea, as the Lord had said to me: and we were a long time going round Mount Seir.
2 And the Lord said to me,
3 You have been journeying round this mountain long enough: now go to the north;
4 And give the people orders, saying, You are about to go through the land of your brothers, the children of Esau, who are living in Seir; and they will have fear of you; so take care what you do:
5 Make no attack on them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even space enough for a man's foot: because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for his heritage.
6 You may get food for your needs from them for a price, and water for drinking.
7 For the blessing of the Lord your God has been on you in all the work of your hands: he has knowledge of your wanderings through this great waste: these forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have been short of nothing.
8 So we went on past our brothers, the children of Esau, living in Seir, by the road through the Arabah, from Elath and Ezion-geber. And turning, we went by the road through the waste land of Moab.
9 And the Lord said to me, Make no attack on Moab and do not go to war with them, for I will not give you any of his land: because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for their heritage.
10 (In the past the Emim were living there; a great people, equal in numbers to the Anakim and as tall;
11 They are numbered among the Rephaim, like the Anakim; but are named Emim by the Moabites.
12 And the Horites in earlier times were living in Seir, but the children of Esau took their place; they sent destruction on them and took their land for themselves, as Israel did to the land of his heritage which the Lord gave them.)
13 Get up now, and go over the stream Zered. So we went over the stream Zered.
14 Thirty-eight years had gone by from the time when we came away from Kadesh-barnea till we went over the stream Zered; by that time all the generation of the men of war among us were dead, as the Lord had said.
15 For the hand of the Lord was against them, working their destruction, till all were dead.
16 So when death had overtaken all the men of war among the people,
17 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
18 You are about to go by Ar, the limit of the country of Moab;
19 And when you come near the land of the children of Ammon, give them no cause of trouble and do not make war on them, for I will not give you any of the land of the children of Ammon for your heritage: because I have given it to the children of Lot.
20 (That land is said to have been a land of the Rephaim, for Rephaim had been living there in earlier times, but they were named Zamzummim by the Ammonites;
21 They were a great people, tall as the Anakim, and equal to them in number; but the Lord sent destruction on them and the children of Ammon took their place, living in their land;
22 As he did for the children of Esau living in Seir, when he sent destruction on the Horites before them, and they took their land where they are living to this day:
23 And the Avvim, living in the small towns as far as Gaza, came to destruction by the hands of the Caphtorim who came out from Caphtor and took their land.)
24 Get up now, and go on your journey, crossing over the valley of the Arnon: see, I have given into your hands Sihon, the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and all his land: go forward to make it yours, and make war on him,
25 From now on I will put the fear of you in all peoples under heaven, who, hearing of you, will be shaking with fear and grief of heart because of you.
26 Then from the waste land of Kedemoth I sent representatives to Sihon, king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me go through your land: I will keep to the highway, not turning to the right or to the left;
28 Let me have food, at a price, for my needs, and water for drinking: only let me go through on foot;
29 As the children of Esau did for me in Seir and the Moabites in Ar; till I have gone over Jordan into the land which the Lord our God is giving us.
30 But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us go through; for the Lord your God made his spirit hard and his heart strong, so that he might give him up into your hands as at this day.
31 And the Lord said to me, See, from now on I have given Sihon and his land into your hands: go forward now to take his land and make it yours.
32 Then Sihon came out against us with all his people, to make an attack on us at Jahaz.
33 And the Lord our God gave him into our hands; and we overcame him and his sons and all his people.
34 At that time we took all his towns, and gave them over to complete destruction, together with men, women, and children; we had no mercy on any:
35 Only the cattle we took for ourselves, with the goods from the towns we had taken.
36 From Aroer on the edge of the valley of the Arnon and from the town in the valley as far as Gilead, no town was strong enough to keep us out; the Lord our God gave them all into our hands:
37 But you did not go near the land of the children of Ammon, that is, all the side of the river Jabbok or the towns of the hill-country, wherever the Lord our God had said we were not to go.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 2
Commentary on Deuteronomy 2 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 2
In this chapter Moses goes on with his account of the affairs of the people of Israel, and what befell them, how they turned into the wilderness again; but passes over in silence their travels there, till they came to Mount Self, where having been some time they were bid to depart, Deuteronomy 2:1, and were directed not to meddle with the Edomites, or take anything from them, but pay them for what they should have of them, since they lacked not, Deuteronomy 2:4, nor to distress the Moabites, of whose country, as formerly inhabited, and also of Edom, some account is given, Deuteronomy 2:9, when they were bid to go over the brook Zered, to which from their coming from Kadeshbarnea was the space of thirty eight years, in which time the former generation was consumed, Deuteronomy 2:13 and now passing along the borders of Moab, they were ordered not to meddle with nor distress the children of Ammon, of whose land also, and the former inhabitants of it, an account is given, Deuteronomy 2:17, then passing over the river Arnon, they are bid to fight with Sihon king of the Amorites, and possess his land, Deuteronomy 2:24 to whom they sent messengers, desiring leave to pass through his land, and to furnish them with provisions for their money, as the Edomites and Moabites had done, Deuteronomy 2:26 but he refusing, this gave them an opportunity to attack him, in which they succeeded, slew him and his people, and took possession of his country, Deuteronomy 2:30.
Then we turned,.... From Kadesh, where they had been many days, and so also their backs on the land of Canaan, on the borders of which they had been:
and took our journey into the wilderness, by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me; Deuteronomy 1:40.
and we compassed Mount Seir many days; many think by Mount Seir is meant the whole mountainous country of Edom, about which they travelled to and fro in the wilderness that lay near it for the space of thirty eight years, which they suppose are meant by many days; but I rather think they came to this mount towards the close of the thirty eight years, before they came to Kadesh, from whence they sent messengers to Edom, which they went round about for several days,
And the Lord spake unto me,.... While about Mount Seir:
saying; as follows.
Ye have compassed this mountain long enough,.... It was time to be gone from thence, as from Horeb, Deuteronomy 1:6,
turn you northward; from the southern border of Edom towards the land of Canaan, which lay north. It was from Eziongeber in the land of Edom, from whence the Israelites came to Kadesh, where they sent messengers to the king of Edom, to desire a passage through his land; see Numbers 33:36.
And command thou the people,.... Give them a strict charge:
saying, ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children or Esau: not through the midst of their country, for that the king of Edom would not admit of, but by or on the border of it:
and they shall be afraid of you; lest such a numerous body of people as Israel were should seize upon their country, and dispossess them of it, they having been so long, wanderers in a wilderness near them:
take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore; that they did not take any advantage of their fears, and fall upon them, and do them mischief, or that they did not provoke them to battle and overcome them.
Contend not with them in battle, nor provoke them to it:
for I will not give you of their land, no not so much as a foot breadth; or as the sole of a man's foot can tread on, signifying that they should not have the least part of it, not any at all. Jarchi makes mention of an exposition of theirs, that he would give them nothing of it until should come the day of the treading of the sole of the foot in the mount of Olives, Zechariah 14:4, meaning not till the days of the Messiah, when Edom should be a possession of Israel; see Numbers 24:18, Obadiah 1:19.
because I have given Mount Seir unto Esau for a possession; and therefore not to be taken away from them; they have a right of inheritance of it; see Genesis 36:8.
That is, if they would, as Aben Ezra observes; for though they had manna daily, yet if they would they might buy other food when they had an opportunity, as they would now have of Edom; but then they were not to take it by force or stealth, but pay for it, which they were able to do. The same writer observes, that some read the words with an interrogation, "shall ye buy meat?" no, there is no need of it; for the Lord had blessed them with a sufficiency of it:
and ye shall also buy water of them for money; that ye may drink; which was usual in those hot countries; See Gill on Numbers 20:19 or dig waterF25תכרו "fodietis", Montanus. that is, pay for digging of wells for water, or buy water out of wells dug in the land of Edom. Jarchi says in maritime places they express buying by this word, and so it is used in the Arabic language; See Gill on Hosea 3:2.
For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thine hands,.... Had increased their cattle and substance, even though in a wilderness:
he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness; every step they took, and he owned them and prospered them in all things in which they were concerned:
these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee: not only to protect and defend them, but to provide all things necessary for them. This number of years was not fully completed, but the round number is given instead of the broken one:
thou hast lacked nothing: and since they had wherewith to pay for their food and drink, they are directed to do it, and not take anything from the Edomites in an unjust way; nor make themselves look poor when they were rich, as Jarchi says.
And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Self,.... Along their coasts, by the borders of their country:
through the way of the plain; the wilderness of Zin, where Kadesh was:
from Elath and Eziongeber; the two ports on the shore of the Red sea in the land of Edom; it was from the latter they came to Kadesh; see Numbers 33:35. Elath was ten miles from Petra, the metropolis of Edom, to the east of it, as Jerom saysF26De loc. Heb. fol. 91. E. ; it is by JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 4. called Aelana, and by the Septuagint here Ailon; from whence the Elanitic bay has its name; he speaks of it as not far from Eziongeber, which he says was then called Berenice:
we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab; the wilderness which is before Moab, towards the sun rising or the east, Numbers 21:11.
And the Lord said unto me,.... When upon the borders of Moab:
distress not the Moabites, neither contend with than in battle; besiege not any of their cities, nor draw them into a battle, or provoke them to fight:
for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; at least not as yet, the measure of their sins not being fully up, and the time of their punishment not come; otherwise in David's time they were subdued, and became tributaries to him, and the Edomites also, 2 Samuel 8:2,
because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession; so the Moabites were, they sprung from Moab, a son of Lot by his firstborn daughter, Genesis 19:37. Ar was the metropolis of Moab, called Ar of Moab, Isaiah 15:1 and is here put for the whole country of Moab; so Aben Ezra interprets it of Moab. Jarchi says it is the name of the province; in the Septuagint version it called Aroer.
The Emims dwelt there in time past,.... We read of them as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Genesis 14:5 when their dwelling was in Kirjathaim, a city which Sihon king of the Amorites took from the Moabites, and which being taken from him, was with others given to the tribe of Reuben, Numbers 32:37. These are by some thought to be the same with the Yemim which Anah found and met with in the wilderness, and defeated, which we render "mules", Genesis 36:24. They had their name from the fear and terror they put men into because of their gigantic stature and great strength, as follows: it is probable they were the descendants of Ham:
a people great and many, and tall as the Anakims; who were very numerous, of a very bulky size of body, and of high stature, like the giants the spies had seen at Hebron, the sons of Anak, a noted giant there, Numbers 13:22.
Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims,.... Because of their bulky size and tall stature; or,"the Rephaim were they accounted, even they as the Anakims;'they were reckoned Rephaim, a name for giants in early times, even as the Anakims were; see Genesis 14:5.
but the Moabites called them Emims; to distinguish them from the Rephaim; so that it seems this name of Emims was not originally their name, but they are called so by a prolepsis, or anticipation, in Genesis 14:5 since they had it from the Moabites, a people of a later date.
The Horims also dwelt in Seir before time,.... Which is the name of a mount, and so of the country, from it; so called from Seir the Horite, who dwelt in it before it was possessed by Esau and his sons; but who the Horim or Horites were, from whence they had their name, is difficult to say; they were as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Genesis 14:6. They seem to be so called from their dwelling in holes and caves in rocks, which the southern part of Edom or Idumea was full of, and to be the same the Greeks call Troglodytae:
but the children of Esau succeeded them; Esau and his sons marrying among them, made way for getting the country into their possession, as appears from Genesis 36:2 and in which they afterwards settled themselves by the dint of sword, since it follows:
when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; even in Seir where they had dwelt, afterwards called Edom, from one of the names of Esau, Genesis 36:8.
as Israel did in the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them; because this is said before the Canaanites were drove out of their land, and it was possessed by the Israelites, some think this was written by Ezra, or some other hand; but there is no need to suppose that; Moses, by a spirit of prophecy, and in faith of the promises and prophecies of God relating to this affair, which were just now about to be fulfilled, might write this; besides, it may refer to what was already done to the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites; which had been taken from them, and given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; and the above instances as well as this may be observed, to encourage the people of Israel that they should succeed in dispossessing the Canaanites, and settling in their land, in like manner as dispossessions of this kind had already been made.
Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered,.... It is called the valley of Zered, Numbers 21:12, the word used signifying both a valley and a brook; and it is very probable there were both a valley and a brook of the same name; it must be near Dibongad, since in one place it is said the Israelites came from Ijim and pitched in Zered; and in another place that they came from thence, and pitched in Dibongad, Numbers 21:11 and
Nu 33:45.
and we went over the brook Zered; which was fordable, or perhaps at this time dried up.
And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea,.... The space of time; or, "the days"F2והימים "et dies", Montanus; "dies autem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; the number of them:
until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; that is, from the time that the spies were sent and searched the land, and brought a report of it; for they were sent from Kadeshbarnea, Numbers 32:8 unto the passage of the Israelites over Zered, were thirty eight years; so long they had been travelling in the wilderness, after they were come to the borders of the land:
until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host; all that were twenty years old and upwards, and fit to go out to war upon occasion, when the people were first numbered after they came out of Egypt; all that generation was now consumed within the above space of time, excepting two, Caleb and Joshua:
as the Lord sware unto them; Numbers 14:21.
For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them,.... His power was exerted in a way of wrath and vengeance on them, for their murmurings at the report of the spies; and therefore, it is no wonder they were consumed, for strong is his hand, and high is his right hand; and when lifted up it falls heavy, and there is no standing up under it, or against it: it smote them with one disease or another, or brought one judgment or another upon them: as the sword of Amalek, by which many were cut off, and the plague at Shittim in the plains of Moab, in which died 24,000; besides the destruction of Korah and his company, which was quickly after the affair of the spies, and the plague at that time, of which died 14,700; and thus, by one stroke after another, he went on to
destroy them from among the host until they were consumed, even all of them but two, as follows.
So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed,.... By wasting diseases and judgments of one kind or another:
and dead from among the people; the rising and surviving generation.
That the Lord spoke unto me,.... At the brook Zered, having passed that, or at Dibongad, which was their next station:
saying; as follows.
Thou art to pass over through Ar,.... That is, over the river Arnon, by the city Ar of Moab, which was situated by it; see Deuteronomy 2:9 and so Moses and the people of Israel were to pass along by that:
and by the coast of Moab; for they were not admitted to enter the land and pass through it; only to travel on the borders of it, and that they were to begin to do this day; the day the Lord spake to Moses.
And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon,.... Who dwelt near the Moabites, and were brethren, both descending from Lot, Genesis 19:37.
distress them not, nor meddle with them: lay no siege to any of their cities, nor provoke them to war, nor engage in battle with them:
for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; that is, any part of it which was now in their hands; otherwise half their land was given to the tribe of Gad; but then that was what Sihon king of the Amorites had taken from them, and which Israel retook from him, and so possessed it not as the land of the Ammonites, but of the Amorites, one of the seven nations, whose land they were to inherit; see Joshua 13:25,
because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession; the Ammonites were the children of Lot by his second daughter, Genesis 19:38.
That also was accounted a land of giants,.... Ammon was so reckoned as well as Moab, Deuteronomy 2:10.
giants dwelt therein in old time; the Rephaim dwelt there, as they did also in Ashteroth Karnaim, Genesis 14:5.
and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; they are thought to be the same with the Zuzims in Genesis 14:5 who had their name, as HillerusF3Onomastic. Sacr. p. 158, 288, 289. thinks, from Mezuzah, a door post, from their tall stature, being as high as one; and for a like reason Saph the giant might have his name, 2 Samuel 21:18. The word Zamzummims, according to himF4Onomastic. Sacr. p. 161, 310, 428. , signifies contrivers of evil and terrible things; they were inventors of wickedness, crafty and subtle in forming wicked and mischievous designs, which struck terror into people, and made them formidable to them.
A people great and many, and tall as the Anakims,.... As the Emims were, Deuteronomy 2:10 but the Lord destroyed them before them; destroyed the Zamzummims before the children of Amman; or otherwise they would have been an too much for them, being so numerous, and of such a gigantic stature:
and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead; and in this way, and by these means, he gave them their land for a possession, Deuteronomy 2:19.
As he did to the children of Esau which dwelt in Seir,.... He did the like things for them as he did for the Ammonites:
when he destroyed the Horims from before them: which is repeated from Deuteronomy 2:12, other instances of the like kind being here recited:
and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead, even unto this day; See Gill on Deuteronomy 2:12.
And the Avim, which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah,.... The same with the Avites, who appear to have inhabited some part of the land of the Philistines, in which Azzah or Gaza was, which was one of the five lordships of the Philistines, Joshua 13:3. The word Hazerim signifies courts, and a learned manF5Clayton's Chronology of the Hebrew Bible, p. 65. interprets it of tents or huts placed in a square or circular form, so as to have an area in the middle; and in such the Avim may be supposed to dwell, while in Palestine, as far as Gaza:
the Caphtorim, which came from out of Caphtor, destroyed them; according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, these were Cappadocians, that came out of Cappadocia; but it seems manifest that they were originally of Egypt, see Genesis 10:14 and BochartF6Phaleg. l. 4. c. 32. col. 291, 292. thinks they went from thence into that part of Cappadocia that was near Colchis; but things not answering their expectations, they returned, and drove out the Avim from their country:
and dwelt in their stead; See Gill on Jeremiah 47:4, Amos 9:7. Though it seems as if they were not utterly destroyed, but some escaped into Assyria, and settled there, where was a place called Ava from them; and from whence they were sent by the king of Assyria to repeople the cities of Samaria, after the captivity of the ten tribes; see 2 Kings 17:24. Now these several instances are observed to encourage the children of Israel to hope and believe that they should be able to dispossess the Canaanites, and inherit their land; such dispossessions having been very frequent, when it was the will of God they should take place.
Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon,.... Which was on the border of Moab, and divided between Moab and the Amorites, Numbers 21:13.
behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon, the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; that is, he had determined to give it to the Israelites, for as yet it was not actually given; of this king, and the place he was king of; see Gill on Numbers 21:21, Numbers 21:26 begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle; provoke him to war, fight with him, take his land from him, and enter upon the possession of it, hereby assuring of victory.
This day will I begin to put the dread of thee,.... And so fulfil the prophecies delivered by Moses in Exodus 15:14.
and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven; not only the neighbouring nations, the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and Canaanites, but nations more remote even throughout the whole world:
who shall report of thee; of what was done for Israel in Egypt, and at the Red sea, and in the wilderness; and particularly of the delivery of Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites, and of their kingdoms into their hands:
and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee; lest they should proceed on, and make conquests of their lands also; see Joshua 2:9.
And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth,.... A city in the tribe of Reuben, and given by them to the Levites in later times, having been taken from the Amorites with others; near this lay a wilderness, which took its name from it, and seems to be the same with Jeshimon, Numbers 21:20. Aben Ezra takes it to be the wilderness of Matthanah, which according to JeromF7De loc. Heb. fol. 93. C. was situated on Arnon, twelve miles to the east of Medeba; see Numbers 21:18 from hence messengers were sent by Moses:
unto Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace; in a peaceable and respectful manner, desiring to be at peace and in friendship with him, and a continuance of it, which was done to leave him inexcusable; as afterwards a like method was ordered to be taken, when they came to any city, to proclaim peace, and if an answer of peace was given, no hostilities were to be committed, Deuteronomy 20:10,
saying; as follows.
Let me pass through thy land,.... See Gill on Numbers 21:22,
I will go along by the highway; the king's highway, as in the place referred to, the public road:
I will neither turn to the right hand nor to the left; to go into his fields and vineyards, and gather the fruit, or tread down the corn and vines, or do any manner of mischief to them; see the above place.
Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat,.... If they thought fit to have provision of them, they desired no other but to pay for it:
and give me water for money, that I may drink; see Deuteronomy 2:6,
only I will pass through on my feet; for they were all footmen, Numbers 11:21, of the phrase; see Gill on Numbers 20:19.
As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me,.... Which respects, as Jarchi observes, not the affair of passing through their land requested, for neither of them granted that, but buying food and drink; for though the Edomites at first seem not to have granted that, yet afterwards they did. The mountain of Seir, and the city Ar, are put for the whole countries of Edom and Moab:
until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the Lord our God giveth us; this is observed to remove any suspicion or jealousy of their seizing his country, and taking possession of it, and dwelling in it; since they only proposed to pass through it on their journey to the land of Canaan, which lay on the other side Jordan, over which they must pass in order to possess it, which they had a right unto by the gift of God.
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him,.... Or through his country, as was desired:
for the Lord had hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate; as he did Pharaoh's, for whom he will he hardens; so that he would not listen to the proposals made to him, nor grant the requests asked of him, but with pride and haughtiness of spirit despised and disdained Israel:
that he might deliver him into thine hand; that so an opportunity might offer of fighting with him, and taking his country from him; whereas, had he been peaceable and flexible, he had continued in the enjoyment of his land, and Israel would not have had that advantage against him; but God, who has the hearts of kings and of all men in his hands, so wrought upon him that he should take the steps he did, which made way for the delivery of him and his country into the hands of the Israelites:
as appeareth this day: for when Moses made this speech, the kingdom of Sihon was possessed by the Israelites, Numbers 21:24.
And the Lord said unto me,.... After or about the time when the messengers were sent to Sihon, perhaps when they had returned and had brought his answer:
behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee; by hardening his heart, which was a sure token of his ruin, and a leading step to the delivery of him into the hands of Israel:
begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land; move towards it and enter into it, not fearing any opposition made by him.
Then Sihon came out against us,.... Perceiving they were upon their march towards his land or into it, he gathered all his people and went out of Heshbon their capital city, where he resided:
he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz; a city which he had taken from the king of Moab, and which in later times, after the captivity of the ten tribes, came into their hands again, Isaiah 15:4; see Gill on Numbers 21:21.
And the Lord our God delivered him before us,.... With their lands:
and we smote him and his sons, and all his people; with the edge of the sword; slew them all: the Cetib or textual reading is "his son", though the Keri or margin is "his sons", which we follow. So Jarchi observes, it is written "his son", because he had a son mighty as himself, he says.
And we took all his cities at that time,.... As Heshbon, and others mentioned in Numbers 21:25,
and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones of every city, we left none to remain; for the Amorites were one of the seven nations who were devoted to destruction, the measure of whose iniquity was now full, and therefore vengeance was taken.
Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves,.... These they did not destroy, but preserved alive for their own use and profit, and took them as their own property:
and the spoil of the cities which we took; as household goods, gold, silver, and whatever valuable was found by them; this they took as plunder, and shared it among themselves.
From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river Arnon.... Upon the border of Moab, and the principal city of it; see Jeremiah 48:19.
and from the city that is by the river; or even the city that is in the midst of the river, the city Aroer, which seems to be meant; see Joshua 12:2. This river is afterwards called the river of Gad, 2 Samuel 24:5 in the midst of it Aroer was, perhaps because it was possessed by the tribe of Gad:
even unto Gilead; Mount Gilead and the country adjacent to it, which belonged to Og king of Bashan:
there was not one city too strong for us; that could hold out against them, when attacked and besieged by them, but presently surrendered:
the Lord our God delivered all unto us; Moses ascribes all the victories and success they had unto the Lord, not to their own might and power, but to the power of God with them, and his blessing on them.
Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not,.... Which was then in their possession; otherwise what Sihon had took away from them, that the children of Israel came into and enjoyed, as before observed, Deuteronomy 2:19.
nor unto any place of the river Jabbok; any town or city situated on this river, which was the border of the children of Ammon, Deuteronomy 3:16; see Gill on Genesis 32:22,
nor unto the cities in the mountains; much less did they penetrate into the innermost parts of their country, the mountainous part thereof, and the cities there:
nor unto whatsoever the Lord our God forbad us: whether in Edom, Moab, or Ammon, particularly the latter, of which he is more especially and peculiarly speaking.